They say you can't read too much into pre-season - but there has to be some encouragement from Barnet's 100-per-cent start to 2017/18, with Millwall the Bees' latest scalp on Saturday.

Rossi Eames' men have already seen off Premier League Swansea City, as well as lower-league Maidenhead and a West Ham Under-23 side, and have started to settle into their stride ahead of the league opener at Forest Green on August 5.

The Bees look to be closing in on the side which will travel to the New Lawn, with all but goalkeeper Jamie Stephens completing at least 75 minutes against the Lions.

And star striker John Akinde, the first name on that team-sheet already, only cemented his place further with a third goal in four games which would prove the winner.

The Bees had a sting in their tail from the off, and Harry Taylor saw a third-minute shot kept out by Jordan Archer as they sought an early opener.

Having taken more than half an hour to register a shot of note against Swansea, their previous higher-level opponents, they attacked from the off against Neil Harris' promoted side and took the lead with 19 minutes gone.

Akinde beat the offside trap from Taylor's slide-rule pass to open the scoring with a cool finish.

Akpa Akpro's cross almost caught out Archer as it curled goalwards before the interval, before Jamie Stephens saw his first real action, making a fine double-save to deny Lee Gregory and Shane Ferguson in quick succession.

It was the final part he would play in the game, as Craig Ross took his place between the sticks at the interval.

With Akinde's fine form in pre-season, you would have expected him to double the advantage five minutes after the interval but miscued when through on goal, scuffing his shot with only Archer to beat.

Ross made his first save to keep out David Worrall's effort out, but that was it for clear-cut chances from the visitors.

Akinde saw another couple of opportunities sail wide as he looked to add to his tally, and substitute Ephron Mason-Clark's effort was held by Archer at the second attempt, but Barnet held on for their one-goal victory.

Barnet: Stephens (Ross 46); Clough, H Taylor, Santos, Johnson; J Taylor (Vilhete 65), Bover (Fonguck 75); Akpa-Akpro (Kyei 88), Campbell-Ryce (Mason-Clark 79), Shomotun; Akinde (Amaluzor 85).

Not used: Tutonda, Cojocarel, Smith.